Sticklebacks suffocated after a stretch of water was polluted

Magistrates heard how students at Kirkley Hall farm, which is part of Northumberland College, let dirty water run into nearby Cadger's Burn.

The prosecution was brought by the Environment Agency after its officers found 10 dead sticklebacks and 10 dead trout in February.

The college was fined �3,000, with �1,287 costs by Bedlington magistrates.

'Better Practices'

The court heard how a representative from the college told Agency officers that students had washed a muck spreader in February this year and that a farm drain that collected the polluted water had overflowed.

It led directly into the burn where the fish suffocated, the court heard.

Magistrates also heard how the students did not realise the consequences of their actions and had done a lot of work to correct the drainage system since the investigation.

A spokesman for the Agency said: "This is a court case that could have been avoided if better practices were in place.

"Lots of things on farms are dangerous to river life and care needs to be taken when working near becks or streams."

The college was charged with polluting water under the Water Resources Act 1991.